September 12, 2008

State Seeks Suspension or Revocation of Liquor License of Fro's in Wilton, IA

Repeated violations alleged of Iowa Smokefree Air Act

Statement:

The Attorney General’s Office has filed a Complaint with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division alleging “open and continuing failure to comply with all applicable provisions of the Smokefree Air Act” by Froehlich Properties, Inc., doing business as Fro’s, or Fro's Pub 'N Grub, in Wilton, Iowa. [Go to Complaint.]

The Complaint says the violations are “sufficient grounds for the suspension and/or revocation of the Licensee’s [Fro’s] liquor license” by the Alcoholic Beverages Division. The Complaint was filed Thursday, Sept. 11. The Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) set the matter for hearing October 15 at the ABD hearing room in Ankeny.

This is the second complaint of this nature filed by the Attorney General’s Office with the ABD. A similar Complaint was filed Sept. 3 alleging Smokefree Air Act violations by “Otis Campbell’s Bar & Grill” in West Burlington, Iowa.

Iowa’s Smokefree Air Act took effect July 1, 2008. The Fro’s Complaint states that the Iowa Dept. of Public Health (DPH) received 5 public complaints from July 1 to August 4 that Fro’s allowed or permitted smoking. DPH issued two notices of potential violation to Fro’s to inform the establishment of the violations and its obligations under the new law. The Complaint also states that on July 3 a Muscatine Police officer observed violations of the law at the bar, including individuals openly smoking inside the premises, the presence of ashtrays, and that employees did nothing to correct or remedy the open violations. The Complaint also states that ABD investigators observed similar violations on August 28.

The Complaint states that Iowa law and regulations provide that liquor control licenses and wine or beer permits can be denied or revoked for establishments that violate the laws of the state.